Alex Fitzpatrick and David Hague in GB&I's squad for St Andrews Trophy

YORKSHIRE champion Alex Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire) and North of England Open title-holder David Hague (Malton & Norton) have been named in Great Britain and Ireland's squad for the St Andrews Trophy match.
Hallamshire's Alex Fitzpatrick (Picture: Chris Stratford).Hallamshire's Alex Fitzpatrick (Picture: Chris Stratford).
Hallamshire's Alex Fitzpatrick (Picture: Chris Stratford).

From the 20-player squad a team will be sent to Finland for the match, which is to be played at Linna Golf on July 26-27.

Scotland’s Craig Watson will captain the nine-man team that will face the Continent of Europe for the second occasion following the 12.5-12.5 tie in the last match at Prince’s in Kent in 2016.

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Watson returns to the role after missing the Walker Cup match in September last year due to a family bereavement.

Malton & Norton's David Hague pictured with then Pannal captain Jonathan Clayton after Hague's Pannal Rose Bowl win in 2016.Malton & Norton's David Hague pictured with then Pannal captain Jonathan Clayton after Hague's Pannal Rose Bowl win in 2016.
Malton & Norton's David Hague pictured with then Pannal captain Jonathan Clayton after Hague's Pannal Rose Bowl win in 2016.

“I’m very much looking forward to the St Andrews Trophy,” he said. “I’m delighted to resume the role and am excited about the potential of the new crop of players coming through and contending for a place in the team.

“We know we will be in for a tough match in Finland and we will need a strong team if we are to win the trophy. I am sure the players we have identified, and others not currently in the squad, will be working hard to impress the selectors in the coming months.”

With many of the 2017 Walker Cup team having turned professional following the 19-7 defeat by the United States last September, only England’s Matthew Jordan (Royal Liverpool) returns to Watson’s St Andrews Trophy squad.

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The 22-year-old is the highest ranked GB&I player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in ninth place after recently capturing the Lytham Trophy with a nine-shot victory. Having not been included in the original squad, Jordan forced his way into the Walker Cup team with an impressive win at the St Andrews Links Trophy.

He is joined by his victorious England 2018 European Nations Cup team-mates Hague, Gian-Marco Petrozzi and Todd Clements. The latter is the current English Amateur champion and claimed the individual title in Spain last month with a five-stroke winning margin.

Watson will gather his squad on the eve of the St Andrews Links Trophy before the final team is announced after the European Men’s Team Championships in July.